Cigar lighter



Jan. 20, 1942. SCHROEDER 2,270,564

' CIGAR LIGHTER Filed March 5, 19156 Patented Jan. 20, 1942 CIGAR LIGHTER Bernard A. Schroeder, Evanston, 111., assignor to John Sinko, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 5, 1936, Serial No. 67,379

12 Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters adapted for use in automobiles and more particularly to electric lighters of the wireless type having a withdrawable igniter plug.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved cigar lighter having an automatic switch for breaking the electrical circuit when the igniting coil reaches a desired temperature.

A further object of the invention is to provide a visible or audible means for indicating when the circuit has been broken.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved socket for receiving the withdrawable igniter plug and yieldingly holding it out of contact with one of the terminals.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cigar lighter of simple construction arranged so that it is unnecessary for the user to hold the plug depressed while the element is being heated to desired temperature.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of a complete plug and socket embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a broken transverse sectional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a broken elevational view showing a modified form of the device provided with an audible indicator; Fig. 4, an end view of a resilient contact ring; and Fig. 5, a side elevational View of the same.

In the embodiment illustrated, A designates a withdrawable igniter plug provided with a heating unit A; B, a socket member adapted to be mounted on a suitable perforated panel; and C, an automatic switch for controlling the circuit.

- The withdrawable plug is shown provided with an insulating sleeve 6, in which is mounted a resilient contact ring I provided with a contact stud 8 and a positioning stud 9 which serve to prevent the ring from being moved longitudinally with respect to the sleeve. A hollow knob Ill is connected by suitable screw threads II to the outer end of the sleeve-and also serves to press a contacting lamp base l2 against contacts l3 provided on the ring I.

The heating unit A may comprise a cupshaped member [4 which is secured back to back with another cup-shaped member I5 which is adapted to make screw-threaded connection with the inner end of the sleeve 6. The cups are provided with insulating washers l6 and ll of mica and are clamped together by means of a bolt l8 l provided with a nut 19. One end of a heating coil 20 of high resistance wire is rigidly secured to the head of the bolt as indicated at 2|, and its opposite end is connected to the cup I4 as indicated at 22. As shown in Fig. 1, the bolt I8 is connected to the contact ring I by means of a conducting arm 23. Also, the lamp base 12 is provided with a suitable lamp bulb socket 24 in which a lamp bulb 25 may be mounted. The lower contact of the lamp bulb may be connected to the cup I5 by means of a contact arm 26.

The socket member B is shown in the form of a tubular casing 21 which is provided at its open end with an outwardly extending flange 28 adapted to abut against a supporting panel 29. The closed end of the casing 21 is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 30 against which abuts an insulating washer 3|, due to the pressure exerted by a compression spring 32. The outer end of the spring abuts against a fibre washer 33 and is held in position by means of a bushing 34, which extends through the panel and open end of the casing to make a screwthreaded connection with the casing as indicated at 35.

The automatic switch C is mounted at the inner end of the casing and is shown with a solenoid 35 having a lead-in wire 31 from a suitable source of current supply and having its opposite end flexibly connected to a soft iron plunger 38 by means of a contact washer 39. The washer 39 may be held in position by means of a square insulating block 40 which makes a snug pressed fit with the reduced outer end portion of the plunger. As it is desirable to have the bulk of the metal in the plunger 38 in the rear of the solenoid, a contacting cup 4| is secured against a spacer 42 by means of a cap screw 43.

Usually the panel 29 is grounded to one side of a current source of supply and the lead-in wire 31, is connected to the other terminal of the source of supply so that by moving the contacting cup [4 inwardly into contact with the cup 4| a circuit is established which will cause the heating coil 20 to heat up to incandescence. It is a wellknown fact that as the temperature of a heating-coil increases its resistance increases and accordingly, with the present circuit, less current will be permitted to flow through the solenoid 36. A compression spring 44 is provided in the casing to abut against the insulating disk 3| and the washer 39. The mechanical strength of this spring is balanced against the electrical strength of the solenoid so that when the heating coil is cool, sufficient current will pass through the solenoid to enable it to hold the switch closed, but as the coil approaches incandescence the increased resistance will reduce the current sulficiently to permit the spring 44 to retract the plunger and de-energize the circuit.

As shown in Fig. l, a light bulb 25 may be connected in parallel with the heating coil 20 and thus it will be understood that the light bulb will cause the handle ID to glow brilliantly whenever a current is passing through the heating coil, and when the contact is broken between the cups I4 and 4! the light will go out. This will indicate to the user that the coil is heated and ready for use.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the rear end of a socket casing 45 is provided with a sound coil 46 disposed in the path of a striker 41 provided on the rear end of the plunger. Thus it will be understood that when the spring overcomes the force of the solenoid the plunger will strike the gong and will indicate that the circuit has been broken.

To operate the device, the operator momentarily presses the knob H] inwardly against the action of spring 32. He may then let go of the knob and the spring will cause the plug to be pushed back into the position shown in Fig. 1. However, when contact was made between the ups l4 and 4| the solenoid 35 was energized and, due to the large amount of current passing through the coil 20, it was able to force the plunger 38 to follow the rearward movement of the knob l and maintain an energizing circuit. While the coil is heating up the light 25 will shine brightly and indicate that the current is turned on. Finally, when the resistance in the coil is sufiicient to reduce the strength of the solenoid to a point where a spring 44 will throw it rearwardly, the circuit will be broken and the light will go out. If a gong is provided this action will also produce an audible signal. When the user sees the light go out he knows that the automatic switch has opened and that the device is ready for use.

One of the advantages of the present invention is in that it protects the heater coil from more current than it is designed to stand. However, if the operator wishes to super-heat the coil it is merely necessary to press the handle Ill inwardly and the current will continue to flow through the coil. Also, it will be understood that the device may be disconnected any time by merely pulling the withdrawable plug out of the socket.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character set forth: a removable electrical unit provided with two electrical contacts; a member for holding said removable unit having a stationary contact and a movable contact adapted to engage the first mentioned contacts and complete an electrical circuit; a spring for urging the movable contact out of electrical engagement with said unit and a solenoid in electrical series with said movable contact for opposing the action of said spring, said solenoid being responsive to a reduction of electrical current in said circuit for interrupting the circuit by retracting said movable contact.

2. A cigar lighter comprising: a socket member provided with electrical supply terminals; a removable plug for said socket having a heating element provided with terminals adapted to engage said socket 'terminals when the plug is inserted by a straight line thrust into said socket; a spring urging one of said terminals out of electrical contact with another of said terminals so as to open the electrical circuit through said heating element; magnetic means for urging said last mentioned terminals into contact against the action of said spring after said circuit is closed. said means being progressively reduced in magnetic strength as the temperature of the heating element increases so as to permit the spring to open the circuit when the heating element reaches a desired temperature.

3. A cigar lighter comprising: a heating ele ment adapted to form part of an electrical circuit; means for closing said circuit; and means responsive to a reduction of current in said circuit for automatically opening the circuit comprising a solenoid and an associated plunger connected in series in said circuit, said plunger having a movable contact adapted to make electrical contact with the heating element and close said circuit, and a spring urging said plunger and contact into open circuit position.

4. A device as specified in claim 2, in which one of the terminals on the socket member is movable longitudinally of the socket and is provided with a striker adapted to strike a sound piece when the circuit is opened and the spring retracts the movable terminal.

5. A device as specified in claim 2, in which one of the terminals on the socket member is movable longitudinally of the socket, and the magnetic means comprises a solenoid connected in series with said terminal and disposed so as to act on the movable terminal when energized.

6. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the plug has a translucent knob, and an electric light bulb is mounted in said knob and is connected in parallel with the heating element to indicate when the unit is energized.

7. A cigar lighter comprising: a socket member having a. cup-shaped casing provided at its closed end with a base terminal electrically insulated from the casing, a compression spring in said casing, and a bushing extending inwardly through the open end of the casing and making a screw threaded connection therewith, said bushing having an outwardly extending flange adapted to engage the front of a mounting panel and clamp the socket member thereto, and the inner end of the bushing serving to hold said spring partially compressed; and a Withdrawable plug adapted to slide into the bushing, said plug having a heating element provided with one contact adapted to make electrical connection with the casing, and a second contact adapted to make electrical connection with said base terminal when the plug is fully inserted and further compresses said spring.

8. A cigar lighter comprising: a socket member having a cup-shaped casing provided at its closed end with a base terminal electrically insulated from the casing, a compression spring in said casing, and a bushing extending inwardly through the open end of the casing and making a screw threaded connection therewith, a fiber washer interposed between the inner end of the bushing and the outer end of the spring. said bushing serving to hold said spring partially compressed; and a withdrawable plug adapted to slide into the bushing and provided with a shoulder to engage said fiber Washer, said plug having a heating element provided with one contact adapted to make electrical connection with the casing, and a second contact adapted to make electrical connection with said base terminal when the plug is fully inserted and further compresses said spring.

9. A cigar lighter comprising: a socket member having a tubular casing adapted to form one electrical supply terminal, a solenoid fixed to the base of said casing, a plunger mounted for sliding movement in said solenoid and provided at one end with an outwardly directed base contact insulated from the casing, a spring urging said plunger inwardly against the force of the solenoid when energized, and electrical series connections between said base contact, said solenoid and a source of electrical supply; and a withdrawable plug adapted to slide into said casing, said plug having a heating element provided with one contact adapted to make electrical connection with the casing, and a second contact adapted to make electrical connection with said base contact to complete a circuit.

10. A device as specified in claim 9, in which the socket is provided with means for yieldingly urging the withdrawable plug outwardly from its fully depressed position in the casing.

11. A device as specified in claim 9, in which a sounding device is disposed in the path of one end of the plunger so as to give an audible signal when the spring overcomes the force of the solenoid and breaks the circuit.

12. A withdrawable cigar lighter plug, adapted to fit into a socket member provided with cooperating electrical supply terminals, which comprises: an insulating sleeve; a contact ring within said sleeve having an outwardly extending stud adapted to project through said sleeve and make a sliding contact with one of the terminals in the socket member; a heating unit carried by one end of said sleeve and having a heating element provided with a base contact adapted to contact electrically with another supply terminal in the socket member, an electrical connection between the heating element and said contact ring; a lamp base in said sleeve; a hollow knob of translucent material screw threaded to said insulating sleeve so as to hold said lamp base in electrical contact with the contact ring; and an electric lamp mounted with one terminal connected to the lamp base and the other connected to the base contact of the heating element.

BERNARD A. SCHROEDER. 

